Israeli PM Netanyahu: Gilad Shalit is Coming Home

*cross-posted from Assoluta Tranquillita*

( IsraelNationalTV on Oct 11, 2011)

From Israel National News:

The Israeli cabinet voted late Tuesday night on the deal to release kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. The vote came following a stormy meeting.

26 ministers supported the deal with only three – Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Infrastructures Minister Uzi Landau, and Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya’alon – voting against the deal.

As part of the deal, Israel will release hundreds of terrorist murderers in the coming days. Hamas has reportedly agreed not to release some arch-terrorists, including Marwan Barghouti; Abdullah Barghouti, serving 67 life sentences; Hassan Salameh, serving 38 life sentences; and Jamal Abu Al-Hijja, serving nine life sentences, all of whom are imprisoned for planning suicide bombings. Also reportedly not included in the deal is the killer of Israeli minister Rechavam Ze'evi, Ahmed Saadat.

Out of 450 prisoners that Israel agreed to release, 96 prisoners will return to their homes in Judea and Samaria and 14 will return to east Jerusalem. As well, 131 prisoners from Gaza will return to their homes, and six adult Israeli Arab prisoners will also return to their homes.

Out of 203 terrorists from Judea and Samaria, 40 terrorists will be taken to countries overseas and the others will be deported to Gaza.

(c) INN

Do I believe this? Not yet. We have been here, done this before. As Jihad Watch reports:

Israel reaches agreement with Hamas to release Gilad Shalit

It isn't over until Shalit is back on Israeli soil. [emphasis mine] One hopes Israel has stipulated that Hamas hand over Shalit first, and only then will the other prisoners will be exchanged. The Palestinian jihadists, for their part, will certainly try to abduct another Israeli soldier. That was believed to be one of the goals in the Eilat jihadist raid earlier this year. "Shalit deal to include 1,027 security prisoners," from YNet News, October 11:

1,027 Palestinian prisoners will be released in the framework of the prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas that would bring IDF soldier Gilad Shalit home.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday night, Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen said that in the first phase of the swap, Israel will release 450 prisoners. Two months later, Israel will choose an additional 577 prisoners it wants to release.

All Palestinian female prisoners held in Israeli prisons are included in the list of 450 including Amina Mona, a young woman who lured a lovestruck Israeli teenage boy by the name of Ophir Nahum to a Palestinian city over the Internet, only to have him killed by waiting terrorists.

Israel will release 110 prisoners to the West Bank (14 to east Jerusalem) while 131 will return to their homes in the Gaza Strip.

Of the 450 prisoners to be released in the first phase, 280 are serving at least one life sentence.

However, Israel scored a major victory as nearly all top Palestinian terrorists will not be freed in the exchange, including:

Marwan Barghouti who was sentenced to five life sentences for his role in the murders of Israelis during the al-Aksa intifada

Abdullah Barghouti who is serving out 67 consecutive life terms for building the bombs that murdered 66 people

Ahmed Saadat who headed the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and was responsible for the assassination of Israeli minister Rehavam Ze'evi

Hassan Salama, a Hamas leader who was convicted of murdering 67 Israeli citizens

Abbas a-Sayed, mastermind of the Park Hotel suicide bombing in which 30 Israelis were killed on the eve of Passover 2002

Ibrahim Hamed, who was found guilty of involvement in terrorist attacks that led to the death of 82 Israelis

"450 is a large number but 300 are leaving the area to Gaza or overseas," Cohen said.

And they will be given a hero's welcome in Gaza for their acts of murder.

(source)

I will ONLY believe that Gilad is free when I see him in his parents' arms. Not until then.

Pay attention!